O.P.E.N.
OKINAWA PEACE and
ECOLOGY NETWORK
MISSION:
To Make Okinawa A Model Of Sustainable Society In The 21st Century
By Converting US Military Bases To Civilan Use.
OVERVIEW:
It is a known fact that our planet and all living
things will die if we continue to operate society as we have in
the 20th Century.
It is O.P.E.N.'s responsibility to introduce ideas, technology
and philosophies which will reverse the present trends and move
us into a healthier and more livable plant. Okinawa is
strategically located in East Asia at the epicenter of what some
say is
one of the worlds 'hot-spots'. (The Korean Peninsula and Taiwan)
About twenty percent of Okinawa's main island is occupied by US
military bases which house more than 27,000 personnel. Why not
turn Okinawa into a model of Peace-Making between US, Japan,
China, Taiwan, North Korea and South Korea?
During WWII Okinawa became a battlefield and one
out of four Islander's were killed.
In total over 240,000 perished: including 14,005 US soldiers,
82 British soldiers, 10,000 forced laborers (Korean
civilian, military and female sex-slaves) most of whose names are
unknown. In addition, over 147,110 local Okinawans and
72,907 Japanese soldiers perished during the three month battle.
A 'Peace Park' has been built to commemorate these
soldiers and civilians and their names engraved on a Wall so as
not to forget their suffering. Such a remembrance is but
one indication of the Islander's peaceful nature.
FACTS:
- Due to global warming the Marshall Islands will soon be
under water. Presently they sit just two feet above sea
level. This precarious situation will force 60,000
islanders to leave their homeland by the year 2005. The
countdown
has begun!!! And now they must quickly decide where they
are to relocate as their homeland sinks into the
surrounding ocean.
- Due to the depletion of ozone in the earth's atmosphere,
sheep and rabbit in Southern Chile are being blinded by
excessive UV exposure . So too are the Kangaroo in
Australia, who are bumping into trees as they move about.
Penguins at the South Pole are dying as fish, their main
source of food, are being dramatically reduced in numbers
because excessive UV is destroying plankton.
- Increasing numbers of alligators in the swamps of Florida
are showing up with little or no sperm due to chemical
pollution. The sperm count of many men( as shown in
British, French, and Japanese tests ) is down 40% over
the last 20 years. An indication that perhaps eve mankind
itself is an endangered species.
- Many deformed babies are born in Viet Nam due to their
prenatal exposure to dioxin. In the Russian city of
Chernobyl and the state of Nevada, many babies are also
effected because of their mothers exposure to nuclear
waste prior to giving birth. We need to face this
reality, our primary goal should be centered on renewing
life
on planet earth and on returning our environment to a
more sustainable ecology.
PLAN OF ACTION:
- O.P.E.N. plans to gather International support for Peace Park
Projects in Vietnam, Cambodia and Northern Ireland.
- O.P.E.N. is presently collecting signatures for it's 'One
Million Signature Campaign', which is being coordinated
out of Okinawa. It calls for removal of US bases and
stopping construction of a heliport offshore ( Not an
acceptable
solution to the closing of Futenma Air Base; because this
does not lessen the number of US military personnel on
the island ).
- O.P.E.N. will sponsor a worldwide essay contest open to
anyone ten years or older. It's theme is to be
"Peace
and Ecology" with the winner receiving an all
expense paid trip to Okinawa. Affording he or she the
wonderful
opportunity to learn more about the island, the people,
culture and its Peace and Environmental issues.
- O.P.E.N. plans to build 'Peace Parks' world-wide in areas
of previous conflict, such as: Viet Nam, Cambodia
Croatia, etc.
PLEASE JOIN
OUR NETWORK
O.P.E.N.
2-8-56 Naha
Okinawa, Japan 900
Tel: 81-98-867-5159
Fax: 81-98-869-1443
E-Mail:
open@teleplex.net